The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-02
T H e
Pacific Commercial Advertiser
MORE LIGHT WANTED.

The "Herald" did not answer our po-
lite inquiry regarding the proposed con-
stitution of the Legislature, although 1t
occupied more than column of its valu-
able space yesterday in the attempt.
Again we ask: If the constitution OF the
Legislature does not suit the Herald
what is it going to do about it? To cite
the action of the Barons of England at
Runnymede and the Declaration OF
independence is not pertinent. This
Kingdom has a Constitution and laws OF
it's own, and whatever political action is
taken must be subject to lawful Emita-
ton It is sheer nonsense to talk OF
''plunging the nation into bankruptcy,
anarchy and revolution" as our con-
temporary does. Extravaganza and mis-
management there may be. Wasteful
expenditure is possible and probable;
but where is bankruptcy" to come
in? The Government can only
spend available revenue and the
loan must be applied to GER
tain specified purposes. 1t is quite pos
sible also that the Government may
lack foresight, and that the expenditures
may not be fairly averaged over the bi-
ennial period, thereby making for itself
the varied experience of feast and
famine every two years, but that does
not mean national bankruptcy" As
for the threatened anarchy and revolu-
tom the idea is ridiculous. What will
constitute the revolutionary force, and
from what section of the population are
the anarchists to come?
When discussing national politics it is
always the better way to keep within
the lines of common sense. Extrava-
CANT statement never serves any cause.
And this, (if our contemporary would
accept the remark from us in the friend
ly spirit in which it is made,) is nearly
always the weak point in its political
argument. We are told that ga Reform
League or Peoples Party ought to be
formally organized without delay, with
office-bearers and committees to guide
it's operations" and that its object
should be to elect non-office holders to
the Legislature This is a clear-cut
proposition, but is it feasible; and even
if it were carried at the elections would
it be the political cure-all it is believed
to be? We suspect not. We think it
would turn out in the sequel that the
change of representatives would not
work reform in that. direction. What
would prevent the members of the re-
form Legislature, when securely seated,
clothing themselves with the RESPONSE
bilities and emoluments of Office like
their predecessors? Nothing whatever.
And although it is rating Legislative re-
formers rather low we suspect that this is
precisely what would happen.
We are taken to task by our young
and hopeful contemporary for saying
that eve must take things as they are; -
and we are told this is can effete medi-
seval doctrine" Well now, brother
''Herald, ;" if we are not to take things as
they are, how are we to take them? As
they are not? That would be impossi-
BILE; and so is his pretty and plausible
scheme of Legislative reform. 1t is true
the Herald may be world-turner
and be able to remove mountains, but it
will find out, as years of failure and dis
appointed hopes roll by, that such dis
placement of matter would be an easy
task compared with that which it has
undertaken. In other words, the APP
pliances for dumping Punchbowl into
the harbor are available; but there are
no appliances available for imposing the
English parliamentary system upon this
country, even assuming it to be suited to
it's circumstances.